What is this medicine?
DIHYDROERGOTAMINE (dye hye droe er GOT a meen) is used to treat migraine headaches with or without aura. It should not be used to prevent migraine headaches.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?
This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. This pricing information was updated 09/2009. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit www.drugstore.com. Actual costs to patients will vary depending on the use of specific retail or mail-order locations and health insurance copays.
| D.H.E. 45 1MG/ML Solution | VALEANT | 5/$593.4 or 15/$1738.63 |
| Dihydroergotamine Mesylate 1MG/ML Solution | PADDOCK | 1/$31.99 or 3/$89.98 |
| Migranal 4MG/ML Solution | VALEANT | 6/$498.29 or 18/$1393.35 |
| Migranal 4MG/ML Solution | VALEANT | 4/$119.99 or 8/$230.98 |
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What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
- allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
- fast, irregular heartbeat
- muscle pain or cramps
- pain, tightness, or discomfort in your chest
- pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet
- weakness in legs
- vomiting
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
- changes in the taste of food
- cold hands or feet
- nasal congestion or sore throat
- nausea
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is for injection under the skin, into a muscle, or into a vein. You will be taught how to prepare and give this medicine. Use exactly as directed. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not use more than the maximum daily or weekly dose. This drug is not for daily use.
It is important that you put your used needles and syringes in a special sharps container. Do not put them in a trash can. If you do not have a sharps container, call your pharmacist or healthcare provider to get one.
A patient information sheet for the product will be given with each prescription and refill. Read this sheet carefully each time. The sheet may change frequently.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
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What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply. Use this medicine only when you have a headache. Do not use double or extra doses.
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What may interact with this medicine?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medicines:
- clarithromycin
- cocaine
- conivaptan
- dexfenfluramine
- ergot alkaloids like dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine
- ephedrine
- erythromycin
- feverfew
- grapefruit juice
- imatinib
- medicines for migraine headache like almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan
- medicines used to treat colds or breathing difficulties
- medicines used to treat fungal infections like itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole
- midodrine
- nefazodone
- nitrate medicines like nitroglycerin
- some medicines for HIV
- troleandomycin
This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
- medicines for blood pressure
- medicines for mental depression
- nicotine
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Known or suspected pregnancy and in nursing women.
- Concomitant therapy with peripheral or central vasoconstrictors or potent CYP3A4 inhibitors; recent (i.e., 24 hours) therapy with a 5-HT1 receptor agonist (e.g., sumatriptan) or an ergot alkaloid (e.g., ergotamine, methysergide). (See Interactions.)
- Known or suspected ischemic heart disease (e.g., angina pectoris, history of myocardial infarction, documented silent ischemia) or coronary artery vasospasm (e.g., Prinzmetal variant angina).
- Known peripheral arterial disease, uncontrolled hypertension, or following vascular surgery.
- Severe hepatic or renal impairment.
- Sepsis.
- Basilar or hemiplegic migraine.
- Known hypersensitivity to ergot alkaloids.
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What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Visit your doctor for regular check ups. Tell your doctor or healthcare professional if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.
You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. To reduce dizzy or fainting spells, do not sit or stand up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. Alcohol can increase drowsiness, dizziness and flushing. Avoid alcoholic drinks.
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What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- blood vessel problems, or surgery on your arteries
- chest pain
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
- infection
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- risk factors for heart disease like smoking, high cholesterol, a family history of heart disease, or if you are a postmenopausal female or a male over 40 years of age
- an unusual or allergic reaction to dihydroergotamine, ergot alkaloids, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- breast-feeding
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you are taking an analgesic for pain and you are no longer experiencing the pain you may stop using the medication. In general, pain medications are to be used on an ?as needed? basis.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
More Information
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